Nothing inspires the feeling of warm breezes and cool tropical drinks quite like a tiki bar.

It can be an elaborate set-up by the pool – complete with ceiling fans, refrigeration and a palapa roof – or a casual bamboo-clad bar in the corner of your basement.

There are many ways to build a tiki bar – from outfitting an existing bar with “tiki style” to purchasing plans and building it from scratch. While a palm-frond roof and bamboo accents will make you think of the islands, there are a few things you need to have to make your bar truly “tiki.”

Stock your tiki bar with all the equipment you need, and you’ll be ready for a tiki party in no time.

What Makes it a Tiki Bar?One thing a good tiki bar must have is a tropical feel. You can get one with a “palapa” roof made out of palm fronds or thatch. Bamboo is a traditional element: your bar can either be made out of bamboo or have bamboo accents built into it. Binding with palm fronds, jute or other natural “string” is also a traditional look for a tiki bar. With those elements, your tiki bar will be “official.”

If you have a few thousand dollars to spare, you can buy a ready-made tiki bar that has all of these elements and can be set up wherever you’d like. In fact, many of these come with electricity, refrigeration, a built-in sink, plenty of counter space and several bar stools for a few of your closest friends.

However, if you don’t have a few thousand dollars to spare, you can still have a traditional tiki bar. Here’s what you need:

Do It YourselfA great way to save money on a tiki bar is to build it yourself. If you’re the type who works better off full plans, there are many good plans available online, including those at tikibarplans.com and tikikev.com. For a small fee, you can download complete plans and a materials list.

If you want to wing it, however, you can build a basic tiki bar yourself. The basic tiki bar is made up of a bamboo frame backed by jute mats and topped with either a medium-density fiberboard (MDF) or painted wood top.

When building your bamboo frame, remember that bamboo splits easily, so if you are going to use nails in the construction, be sure to drill small pilot holes first.

You can make a three-sided tiki-bar frame by gluing and tying strong bamboo poles together in three separate panels. Each panel is constructed of four bamboo poles in a rectangle, and strengthened by poles that are criss-crossed in the middle. Jute matting is then stapled to the backside of each panel, and the three are leashed together to form an open-backed bar. Top the bar with your MDF board, painted wood or laminate.

You can accent your bar with store-bought grass skirts that have been cut to a uniform length and hot-glued to the underside of the bar top so they hang over the jute matting.

Bamboo tiki bars are perfect for a basement or family room, but will not stand up well to the outdoor elements.

An outdoor tiki bar must be constructed to withstand the weather, and may have to meet building codes, depending on the complexity of the structure. Many plans call for the bar to be constructed out of marine-grade wood and sealants, with bamboo accents lending a decorative touch rather than as a structural element.

Research the location, size and the accessories you want in your tiki bar, as well as how much building skill will be needed in the construction of your backyard getaway.

Altering an Existing BarIf you don’t want to start from scratch, you can add tiki flair to almost any bar for just a few dollars. A visit to the home or party store will get you some grass skirts, bamboo and jute mats so that you can decorate any freestanding bar with a tiki theme.

Hot-glue or use a staple gun to attach the dried grasses to the edge of the bar and the jute mats to the inside panels. Get half-lengths of bamboo and place them around the edges so your bar looks like it was constructed of bamboo rather than standard wood or metal.

Tiki DrinksDrinks served from the tiki bar should have a decidedly island feel. Keep beer (preferably Mexican or Jamaican) and some wine on hand for those who steer clear of adventure. Mixed drinks will rely heavily on rum and tropical juices. Consider serving some of the following drinks at your next tiki party:

Hurricane – There are many variations of this drink, which is often made with rum, passion fruit juice, lime juice, orange juice and grenadine.

Tequila Sunrise – Visually stunning, this drink is made with tequila, with orange juice with grenadine dripped down the inside of the glass for a “sunrise” effect.

Margaritas – A must for a Mexican flair, this drink contains tequila, triple sec and citrus juice. Serve over ice in salt-rimmed glasses or blend with ice for a frosty drink.

Tiki AccessoriesOnce your tiki bar is up and running, keep the theme going with tiki-bar furniture, glassware and other accessories.

Import stores and online retailers often carry a variety of tiki-themed products. Look for tiki cups and mugs, tiki martini glasses and cocktail shakers, bamboo stools and dishware, tiki masks for the walls and cups made of real or faux coconut shells.

If your tiki bar is outside, look for lounge chairs and tables with an island feel – and don’t forget the tiki torches to set the mood for an evening party. A fire pit can add atmosphere and keep the party going when the weather cools.

Set up your tiki bar, stock up on rum and settle in for an island experience no matter where you live.

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